A methodological elaboration «American Traditions. Presidents’ Day» may serve as a basis for a scenario to an English language extra-curricular activity with students. Holding the event may prove in the process of studying the topic «USA. The state structure and the political system» and helps to broaden young people’s mental outlook and to improve their skills in monologue speech as well as listening skills.

Goal: to check the students’ skills of listening; to practise speaking; to develop the students’ creative mentality in communicative activity; to promote the development of logical thinking, breadth of mind; to enrich the students’ vocabulary; to develop an interest in learning of American traditions and culture.

Equipment: the state flag of the USA; national emblem; multimedia system; portraits and quotations of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln; sheets of paper, felt-pens for students’ activities, the students’ newspapers.

The national anthem of the Unites States of America is sounded.

Leader:

In February, the United States honors two great American presi­dents: Abraham Lincoln, on February 12th, and George Washington, on Feb­ruary 22nd. These two days are com­bined into one legal holiday on the third Monday in February, called Presidents’ day.

Both presidents have been honored in different ways. George Wash­ington is the only president to have a state named after him. The nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., also has his name. There are cities, towns, streets, schools, bridges, and parks named after both president Lincoln and president Washington. Both have famous memorials in Washington, D.C., their portraits also appear on post­age stamps, bills, and coins. Washing­ton’s house in Mount Vernon and Lincoln’s home in Springfield, Il­linois, have been made into museums.

Cherry pie is a traditional food for Washington’s birthday of a popular legend. It is said that as a boy Washington chopped his father’s cherry tree. When asked by his father, he admitted to his wrongdoing and said «I cannot tell a lie».

I student:

GEORGE WASHINGTON

George Washington is known in American history as «The Father of His Country». Washington played an important role during the French and Indian War which later gave him the knowledge and insight to help with fight for freedom during the American Revolution. Washington served as Commander in Chief of the Continental Armies. America won it’s independence with the sign.ing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

George Washington was elected and served as the first president of the United States.

George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, near Bridges Creek, Westmoreland County, Virginia, where he spent the first three or four years of his childhood. His home, known as the Wakefield Estate, was accidentally burned during the Revolutionary War.

After his father’s death, 11-year-old George became the ward of his half brother, Lawrence. Washington’s favorite subject in school was arithmetic. When he was 14, he wanted to become a sailor, but his mother would not allow it. Instead, he decided to explore the frontier, and at the age of 15, became an assistant to local surveyors. At the age of 20, George began managing Mount Vernon. He enjoyed farming. Later in his life he took great pride in being regarded as the «first farmer» of the land.

II student:

His interests included riding, fox hunting, duck hunting, fishing, dancing, and theatrical performances. He also played billiards and cards and ran his own horses in races. He excelled in all outdoor activities. As a member of Virginia society, Washington insisted on the best clothes, which he bought in London.

As a landowner, he owned slaves, as was the custom of the times, but was a model master. He took care in feeding and clothing his slaves, always had a doctor at hand, and refused to take part in selling any of his slaves. He was totally against such behavior.

George Washington was a respected military leader, having distinguished himself during the French and Indian War, and did much to help his young nation achieve its independence. Washington became the successful Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War (fought against the British, 1775–1781). He was also called upon to lead the Constitutional Convention in 1787, whose purpose was to create a proper constitution for the newly formed Union.

III student:

Because of the leading role he had played in the Revolution and in defining the new government, George Washington was unanimously elected first President of the United States and served two terms. When Washington was first elected, the nation’s capital was New York City. In 1790, the capital was moved to Philadelphia. Congress agreed to move the capital to a federal district on the Potomac River in 1800. Washington spent much time on the plans for this city that would later bear his name.

On December 12, 1799, he rode his horse for several hours in cold, snowy weather and returned home quite ill. He died two days later. The news of his death was received with sorrow both in the United States and in Europe.

Washington was one of the United States greatest heroes. That is why he is called the Father of His Country.

IV student:

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Three states can claim Abraham Lincoln as a favorite son. Born in a log cabin near Hodgenville, Kentucky, on February 12,1809, young Lincoln moved with his family to Indiana when he was 7 years old, and then to Illinois when he was a young man of 21. His childhood was spent on the American frontier.

As he grew, two characteristics set Abe aside from other boys his age. One was his size and strength, and the other was his eagerness for knowledge. Growing to a height of 6 feet 4 inches, Lincoln rivaled his peers in rough frontier sports. At the age 22, he was able to throw the strongest man of the neighborhood in a wrestling match.

Lincoln’s uneducated parents encouraged his eagerness for knowledge. They saw to it that he and his sister attended schools organized by wandering teachers, regardless of the cost. Unfor­tunately, such schools never continued for very long.

Lincoln was mostly self-educated. He read over and over the few books he could find. These included Aesop’s fables, Robin­son Crusoe, a biography of George Washington, a history of the United States, the laws of Indiana, and the Bible.

V student:

As a young man, Abe realized that his success in life would depend upon his education. With each new job, Lincoln searched for and borrowed books that would help him learn about his work. Between the ages of 22 and 27, he was a storekeeper, a post­master, and a surveyor. In 1836, he became a lawyer in Spring­field, Illinois.

Lincoln was elected to the Illinois state legislature in 1834, where he served four two-year terms and became known for his frankness, honesty, and ability to tell droll stories. He then served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives – from 1847 to 1849. Lincoln opposed the extension of slavery and debated Stephen A. Douglas over the injustice of slavery in an unsuccessful aid for the U.S. Senate in 1858. After much hard work, he was elected president of the United States in 1861, just a few months before the Civil War began. He was the wartime leader of the country.

VI student:

Believing that slavery was wrong, he put forth the Emancipa­tion Proclamation, which freed all slaves, in 1863. Later that year, he gave the immortal Gettysburg Address during the dedication of the national cemetery at the site of a great, but costly, Union victory.

Lincoln was the first President to be assassinated. He was shot by actor John Whilkes Booth in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1865, while watching a play at Ford’s Theater. Lincoln is con­sidered one of America’s greatest and most loved leaders.

VII student:

The most famous quotations of American Presidents:

George Washington :

I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an «Honest Man «.

Abraham Lincoln :

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.

The ballot is stronger than the bullet.

A house divided against itself cannot stand.

It is not best to swap horses while crossing the river.

It is true that you may fool all the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all the time; but you can’t fool all the people all the time…

Leader: Let’s move to our activities :

Аctivities for students

I. Match words with similar meanings.

1. chop a. say no

2. admit b. freedom

3. wrongdoing c. tell the truth

4. elect d. bring together

5. refuse e. choose

6. conflict f. with complete agreement

7. independence g. fault

8. ideal h. cut

9. unanimously i. problem

10. unite j. perfect

II. Cross out the word that does not belong.

1

chop

a. meat

b. wood

C

milk

d. onions

2

admit

a. a mistake

b. an error

C

a fault

d. a television

3

refuse

a. a wall

b. to eat

C

a gift

d. to sing

4

elect

a. a president

b. a spouse

C

a senator

d. a judge

5.

unite

a. people

b. countries

c

a dress

d. states

ІІІ. Select the word that best completes the sentence.

1. George Washington (planted, chopped down) a cherry tree when he was young.

2. President Lincoln was able to (ideal, unite)country divided by slavery

3. Lincoln’s (ideals, independence) of democracy and freedom are admired by all people.

5. President Washington was (refused, elected) for a third term as president.

6. The civil war was a tragic (conflict, ideal) during Lincoln’s presidency.

7. According to a legend, Washington felt guilty about his (election, wrongdoing).

8. Washington fought to gain the (independence, conflict) of the United States from England.

9. Lincoln was (refused, elected) the 16th president of the United States.

10. Washington was the only president of the United States to be elected (inde­pendently, unanimously).

IV. Ask a question about each statement. The first word in each question has been written for you

1.George chopped down a cherry tree. What___?

2.He admitted his wrongdoing because he couldn’t lie. Why____?

3. Lincoln was president during the conflict of the Civil War. When____?

4. Washington became very famous during the fight for independence. When___?

5. President Washington was elected unanimously. Who___?

6. President Lincoln united the northern states and the confederacy. What____?

7. In «The Gettysburg Address» President Lincoln expresses his ideals of democracy. Where____?

8. George Washington was the first elected president of the United States. Who____?

9. President Washington refused a third term. What___?

10. George Washington’s wrongdoing was to chop down his father’s cherry tree. What_____?

V. Fill in the blanks with words.

1. Abraham Lincoln was a ____great man and __________.

2. A month after he was_______ ___________ as the 16th President, this____ began fighting the Civil War.

3. Lincoln helped____ the union.

4. If the _____had not been preserved, the United States would have ____into two_____ nations.

5. Lincoln was ___in a log cabin.

6. When he could be ____ from farm____, he attended school.

7. His____ schooling totaled less than a____.

8. He ___ _____most of his ____on his own.

9. Books were___ and he was known to walk long___ to ____a book.

10. After working on the____ all day, he would sit and read by ___.

VI. Fill in the blanks with words.

1. George___is known as the «Father of his country».

2. When he won our ___from Great ____ in the Revolutionary War, he was the ____of his army.

3. He was ___of the ___that wrote the United States____.

4. He was ___the ____President of the United States.

5. Many__ have been told about George Washington through the years.

6. One___story tells how he _____ down one of his father’s cherry__ and then ___by saying, «Father, I cannot tell a lie.»

Leader:

The next type of our activity – «Presidential Fact» – you have to draw in fun the following phrases:

1. He was first president depicted on a coin.

2. He was the first President to wear a beard and did so as the request of an 11-year girl.

3. He was the only President to patent an invention.

4. His favourite sports were wrestling and weightlifting.

5. He loved home-baked pies, especially those mailed to him by the woman of his home town.

6. His famous false teeth were made of hippopotamus teeth.

7. His favourite sports were horseback riding and fishing.

8. His favourite vegetable was onion.

9. He was the first President to appear on a postage stamp.

10. He was one of our richest Presidents.

Leader:

Americans believe that the president should be a good leader, but also a kind and honest person. So, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln are considered to be the best and the most moral presidents.

Washington’s personal qualities and fair politics were recognized during his life and they seem even impressive today. Lincoln put forth the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed all slaves, and it is the major contribution to the formation of American nation.

So, Presidents’ Day is a symbol of the greatest respect of Americans personally to George Washington and Abraham Lincoln as the outstanding presidents of the USA.